Best 1st Rat: HRLM or MUMojo?

XMP

XMP

Joined
Feb 9, 2007
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I need some advice from the more experienced rats here. I'm looking at getting my first SWKW knife and am unsure of which route to go. While I use a variety of blade lengths, I'd have to say that I gravitate to 6-7" blades (e.g, on the nice end Randall #14 & on the beater end CS SRK). For that reason I'm tempted to get a Mini Uncle Mojo. However, I'm a little leery of the recurve, because it sounds like SR101 is a chore to sharpen and I'm not confident to do it well (reference other recent thread in this forum). So would I be better off with the HRLM as my first rat since it has a more normal profile, even though it is shorter than what I normally use.

BTW my fixed blades are mostly for field utility use (hiking, camping, backpacking, and general security blanket weapon:D ). I also usually have a folder and a minitool along, but don't normally use a blade bigger than 7" (although Busse may change me in that regard:) ).

Thanks in advance for the help.
 
I'd go for the Mojo. It's just so pretty, and more what you're looking for. (The folder can cover your small blade needs.) You'll learn how to sharpen it. You can always send it in to the shop and have them thin out the edge, which would make it easy to sharpen on some cheap ceramic rods or a spyderco sharpmaker.

Don't get me wrong - the HRLM is an AWESOME little blade. But it sounds like you want a bigger blade.
 
I'm not a big recurve fan, so I would get the HRLM and wait for a Camp Tramp or SH-E to show up in the for sale forums. I think SR 101 is actually one of the easier steels to sharpen, you might be very pleasantly surprised.
 
The blade on the HR is as long as a large folder (4in.), right? So I would think with a Mojo you'll have all the bases covered.

I know that SR101 holds an edge real well, but it's not hard to sharpen at all. I've never been that talented with a stone, but since these have a convex edge there's a little more room for error since you don't have to worry about keeping the angle perfect. Stroping a mousepad/sandpaper set upis a lot easier than stone honing. I prefer a convex edge over V's anyway so the maintenance on these has been pleasure for me.
 
Thanks for the responses so far, guys. I'm still pondering, so I'd welcome any other input.
 
XMP,
Heck get Both!
Try both out.. sell the other one later for what you bought it for or maybe more (ymmv)

They're different knives, suited for different tasks.. pics & specs don't do them justice really, you have to Feel them.

I bought myself an HRLM months ago as a consolation prize for striking out on an Infi blade, later on i Scored that Infi blade and was gonna sell off my HRLM. BUT that HRLM *really* grew on me! the heft, balance, handle shape, feel in the hand.. just Clicked with me. I ended up selling off that Infi blade!

Imo.. these blades must be experienced.

If you can only get one.. put both pics side by side.. and whichever speaks to you the most.. that's the one.
 
I'd love to buy both, but I also recently ordered a Busse Badger ATAC, so financially that isn't in the picture at the moment. BTW is the fact that I'm getting a Badger a consideration? Is one or the other of the Rats more redundant with the Badger? Thanks for the comments.
 
HRLM = 4" blade, 9 1/8" OAL, 3/16" thick
BATAC = 5" blade, 10.75" OAL, 3/16" thick
Mini-Mojo = 6 3/4" blade, 12 3/8" OAL, 1/4" thick

hmm.. the first 2 are closer

decisions, decisions :)
 
Well, I decided on the Howling Rat. The main factors in my decision were that I REALLY REALLY want a Busse SFNO and so I decided to reserve the 6+" slot for it (I HOPE!), and it will make it easier to justify to the wife sometime if I haven't already bought the Uncle Mojo. Secondly, I decided to steer clear of the recurve blade for the normal profile, when it came time to fork out my money. Thanks for the advice.
 
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